Page 10 of Bruiser's Reckoning

“You wanna say that again?” Rico asks. “I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”

“You heard me,” Bruiser grunts. “You wanna play it off, so be it, but don’t lie about the threat and act like it’s not a big deal. It’s a massive fuckin’ big deal.”

“Don’t you tell me what’s a big deal and what’s not,” I snap, pointing a finger in Bruiser’s chest, jabbing him with it. This might not be the smartest thing to do, but he shouldn’t have butted into my conversation with Rico. “You don’t get to have a say about it, period. You’re just around to make sure I don’t get taken by a sick bastard who thinks he can take what he wants.” I barely realize I’m screaming until the last word leaves my lips.

Okay, so this situation isn’t sitting as well with me as I want others to believe. I mean, who finds out their family is in so much debt, they’d get in bed with a bad guy to handle the situation rather than admitting they need help and getting it? Because of them, my life is being threatened. Mine and several other women. Who can blame me for having a weak moment and losing my shit.

Spinning away from Bruiser, I face off with Rico and motion to him I’m ready to go again. “Let’s go.”

“Babe, you need to talk about this,” Rico mutters, turning his attention from Bruiser to me. His head moving in slow motion.

“No, Rico, I don’t. I need to be ready if someone comes at me. So, let’s do this, damnit, and drop the subject. I don’t have much more time before people start showing up for the class.” I huff, ignoring the fact Bruiser is still standing not far from where I am.

After feeling his touch, I don’t think I could ever be able to ignore his presence, which is something else I don’t understand. What is it about this man that gets to me?

“Why didn’t you tell me you were in trouble?” Angie demands, storming into my apartment.

I’d only just gotten out of the shower after attempting to relieve myself of some of the arousal still flowing through my veins. My body is still humming with the need for more which simply pisses me off more. Throughout the day, Bruiser has kept close to me, eyes heated with what I hope is just frustration, but if he’s feeling what I am, it’s more sexual than anything.

During my last class of the day, I kept sneaking a peek at his crotch and saw what I’d felt last night. That hard shaft he’s sporting is nothing to joke about. To make matters worse for me, my mouth was all but watering for a taste of him. I even called him up to use him as a demonstration of how to get away from a man his size. Thankfully, he joined without issue.

Well, not any big ones. Every woman in the class had all but swooned at the sight of him. A few even gave him their numbers. He grinned and even flirted a bit, but I saw him toss the numbers in the trashcan on our way out.

“What’s there to know?” I shrug and curl into the corner of my couch, aware of Bruiser and Dagger watching my friend stomp the short distance and collapse next to me.

Dagger had been the one to answer the door, and he was staring at my friend like she had two heads because she completely plowed right past him. Bruiser, on the other hand, had been coming out of the kitchen with a glass in his hand.

“Gwenny, you know that bullshit act doesn’t work with me,” Angie snaps, kicks off her shoes, and turns to sit cross-legged, facing me. “Now, dish. I want to know what’s going on and why you have two hunk-a-licious men in your apartment when we both know you never allow any man except for Mick, Dad, Ross, and your brother in here.”

“Seriously, Angie, it’s nothing,” I try again. I’m tired of everyone wanting to know about something I find entirely humiliating.

“Princess, you best tell your friend the truth,” Bruiser states using that damn nickname. A part of me hates it, but another loves it. Every time he calls me that, a shiver races down my spine straight to where I crave the feel of him the most.

I swear if I don’t do something about this soon, I’m going to end up in bed with him and not just how we were last night. I don’t even know the man. I’ve barely spoken to him in any other way besides frustrated snaps.

“What’s the truth?” Angie cocks a brow, eyes on Bruiser, traveling the length of him. “You might as well tell me since my best friend doesn’t seem inclined to tell me, Mr. Panty-Wetter.” Her gaze comes back to me, and she grins. “Seriously, tell me you’ve experienced all that is him.”

“Um, no,” I grumble and shake my head, hoping to keep me from figuring out my thoughts when it comes to Bruiser.

Bruiser chuckles, and out of the corner of my eye, I watch him close the distance between us and him. He sits on the arm of my couch, his leg touching me, the hand not holding his drink brushes over my shoulder. “Not yet, she hasn’t, but it’ll happen,” he says directly to me. I know this especially when I twist around in my seat enough to look up and meet his gaze.

“No, it’s not,” I mutter and decide the best course of action is to ignore him. Focus on Angie and what she’s doing here. “So, who told on me anyway?”

“Rico.” She grins. “I called looking for you, and he told me. He also asked me if I wanted to go grab a beer.”

Oh boy.

“Don’t get your hopes up, chickadee. You know he’s only being friendly,” I warn her.

“Oh, I know. He told me he wanted to talk about doing a CPR course for the teens in the area.”

He did? Rico didn’t mention any of this to me.

“Why didn’t he ask me while I was there?” I blurt out, furrowing my brow.

“Maybe because you have enough on your plate as it is,” Angie suggests. “Anyway, tell me exactly what’s going on. I know there’s more to it.”

I release a sigh and fill Angie in on what’s going on, including the two bodyguards. There wouldn’t be any hiding it from her tomorrow when we’re back on shift and Dagger’s there going on calls with us.

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